Biber: Mensa Sonora, Seu Musica Instrumentalis
) | Label: CHANDOS Catalog: CHAN0748 Format: CD The Purcell Quartet with Jane Rogers, violaHeinrich Ignaz von Biber (1644-1704) Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis; Sonata in A major for violin, violone and harpsichord Having recorded Biber's 'Harmonia artificiosa-ariosa, Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servientes', and the 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum' sonatas to deserved plaudits, The Purcell Quartet here adds 'Mensa sonora' coupled with a Sonata in A major for violin, violone and harpsichored to its recorded catalogue. As Gramophone noted when reviewing 'Sonatae tam aris', 'the English group has special things to say about this music: a pure unadulterated pleasure in Biber's delicious creations'. In this new act of homage Jane Rogers joins the group in the performance of the six suites that make up 'Mensa sonora'. The Purcell Quartet adheres to a 'minimalist' approach which draws the listener into the textual and rhetorical essence of the music in an intimate and immediate way. They have recorded exclusively for Chandos Records since 1987, having made forty discs of a huge range of music. The critical response has been consistently enthusiastic - Gramophone wrote recently, 'I am drawn to the sheer beauty and intimacy of the ensemble playing here...a strongly recommended new release'. BBC Music Magazine wrote, 'The playing is infectiously uninhibited and technically immaculate - a programme of unqualified pleasure'.  Price: $25.98 |